The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-06-23
N. G., THURSDAY, JUNE %, 1887.

who conquered the worlds esteem and ap-
plause by the force of transcendent pow
ers, but the profession itself was most
often referred to with a sneer and a smile,
and 10 man of talents would have thought
of giving his life to it willingly. l am
amazed at the folly of those times, and
my blood boils at it as well.
y change has come over the thought of
the world since then, thank God, though
like all changes it has been Of slow growth.
1t Is still hard to find man 50 utterly
abandoned to ignorance that he does not
| feel able to discourse on education for the
edifcation of his fellows. The editor, as
| ignorant Of the laws of teaching and the
! principles OF mental growth as he is of the
characters on the Moabitish stone, still
feels called upon at stated times to illu
mine the science of pedagogics. Men and
women of all classes and conditions who
| have never read a book on education or
| digested a single well-detined axiom of
teaching in their lives still with utmost
| nonchalance offer suggestions, criticize
and object to the work of one who gives
his mind and heart and energy to his work.
The time is at hand, | think, for teach
ers, true teachers | mean, to tell such
| people in entire courtesy that they are
talking about that which they know not.
| Some of them will be surprised to learn
good for them to hear.
Teachers, deserve and preserve your
professional SelfreSpect. You have been
professional hewers of wood and drawers
of water quite long enough. Sufference
has been the badge of all your tribe but
the time has come to assert and not to
suffer Not the least object of this AS
sembly is to induce this determination
and to achieve this end. do not counsel
| II
dint of labor and thought put your work
OH an intelligent and rational basis, prove
that it is good and then hold fast to it.
II it be necessary to use tact, use tact, and
! IT 1t be necessary to speak your mind,
speak your mind. Accept intelligent crti
cisms with thankfulness for it is the life
of Us hut give no heed to ignorance and
presumption but rather scorn and con-
tempt and you and your profession will be
the gamers thereby.
1t may take courage to do this. a
| cOwardly teacher is a pltiful sight under
the sun and ''he that hath no stomach for
this fight let him DEPART
The old meditative era of seclusion has
passed away and torrent of thought and
action is rushing past us. The keen eye
of this generation is seeing the teacher
and his work in their true light and he
now has an opportunity to establish him
self firmly in the estimate of men. Not
by claims or boasts or assumptions but by
his works shall he be judged. His science
is the science of human growth, his coun-
| try the one of most boundless oppOrtuni-
tie where neither an aristocracy of wealth
or of learning or of blood but the whole
people must forever, and must of necessity
be trained for their sovereignty, rule and
he the mlghtiest agency at work among
them. He is 40 longer an apparitlon and
a nOnentity but man who has strength
and influence among his fellows. He Is
battling in n great cause that must win
and lie bears on his shield, trust, no such
miserable legend us he education of the
few aud select, but the training of the
whole people. His profession has been
dignitied and strengthened in the last de
cade. The best thought of the world is
spending itself upon its development and
their thoughts abound upon the book
shelves of every town and city. The one
thing needed is the honest and unpreju-
diced study of the principles of education
upon a foundation OF accurate knowledge
and it is in our power to exalt this work
to its proper place as the highest given by
God to man. Our prayer like that OF
Ajax in the darkness of the Trojan plain
should be for ligh: that we may see our
fOaman' face.
NcNtI NAVE cdL opI'oA bColi oo
great if We but embody the spirit of
Chaucer's school master "Gladly would
he lerne and gladly teacac." The child is
given US.
'>Over whom his Immortality Broods
like the Day, a Master DER a Slave" and
our problem is to determine how to make
the most of him and to work out in him
Gods design and the law of his being
which is growth, and to SO nourish and
foster and fashion
That mind and soul according well
May make one music:
This is no work for false faces and shal
low minds and small souls.
He that has ever done it truly, knows
that he must have about him infexible
common sense and must feel within him
the stress and undertOne of love and pity
and gentle sympathy for his kind. Tho
, greatest of all Teachers came that mel
might have life and might have it more
abundantly. We are come here not to in
dulse in parley or dispute over method
ology, but to take counsel how we may
carry these children entrusted to US by
the commonwealth to q higher place where
| the air is clearer and serener and the wa
ters if they be thirsty, are swCeter fol
{ their refreshment throughout lifes stern
| way-and if happily we may, to lea(
, them nearer unto the thoughts of Hin
, whose wisdom tranScendS human imag
5 ination and whose care directs the fai
: aud wondrOus order of the universe.
| shall conclude in the language Of Len
l tell the speaker of the famous Long Par
| lament who, when the angry Monarcl
t bade him point out the defiant members
fell on his knees saying: Sire! I have
t neither eyes to see or lips to speak excep
. as this house shall direct, whose servan
r | am
t his is a teachers meeting and thos'
2 who are here as friends of education vii
t be expected to show their friendship b.
: their conduct.
The G.. +. & Wv. Il. Il.
t IFrom Greensboro North State.
t We reprint the statement about the earn
: ings of the C. F. 81 Wv. r. r. to give
G | correcti0n in the aarnin0S The